The OTT conundrum for MENA telecoms (English)

Achieving sustainable growth in a digital world

In this Arthur D. Little regional telecom report we aim to provide a nuanced view of the growth patterns within the MENA region, as well as deconstruct the growth to its underlying reasons in four key markets. An important focus area is the threat of core revenue disruption by over-the top (OTT) players in messaging, voice and video. On the surface, there exists a deceptive view of homogeneity for the South Asia, Middle East and North Africa region, and for especially the subregions of Middle East and North Africa (MENA), such that these markets appear very similar. In reality, the local information and communication technology (ICT) markets are quite varied. Our analysis and discussions with local decision-makers present several interrelated conclusions.